The bloodbath in Rivers State
continued, yesterday, as five persons were killed in attacks by suspected
cultists in different parts of the state. The state high court premises in Port
Harcourt also came under attack. The attack on the court led to a shutdown of
the judicial system in the state.

This came a day after five policemen
attached to the 30 Police Mobile Force in Bayelsa State, were killed during a
gun battle with suspected cultists at Okobe in Ahoada West Local Government
Area of Rivers State.

The policemen were attacked en route
their base in Bayelsa from Yobe State, where they went on official assignment.

In the creeks of nearby Bayelsa
State, gunmen suspected to be sea pirates and renegade militants in the early
hours of yesterday, invaded the coastal town of Foropa in Southern Ijaw Local
Government Area of the state, killing three soldiers.

The attack on the soldiers, it was
gathered, occurred at 1a.m., at a military check point in the coastal
settlement. In the Rivers State incident, among those killed were two private
security men guarding the state judiciary complex.

It was gathered that the gunmen
invaded the state judiciary complex in Port Harcourt, and killed two guards in
the court premises. The killers also attacked three civilian security men who
were on night duty with machetes and axes in the court premises.

Two of the victims died instantly,
while the third person has been hospitalized. On a visit to the complex, Police
patrol vehicles and armed policemen were seen at the two main entrances to the
complex.

A female guard, who resumed duty,
yesterday morning at the state high court premises that the victims were killed
with machetes and axes. The lady, who pleaded anonymity, said the killers
entered the court compound through the gate and met their victims sleeping.

She said the victims were on night
duty when they were attacked, adding that the guards were overpowered. Also,
the Chief Security Officer of the court complex, Mr Tabotubo Douglas, who
confirmed the killings, said one of the guards was injured and is receiving
treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

He said the assailants used hard
substances to club the guards, noting that no gunshot was fired. “Two were
killed, one injured. I came to work after 6p.m., and met Policemen all over the
place. Unknown men killed the security men on duty. ‘’The press should verify
their news. No gunshot was fired anywhere. No policeman was killed.

Rather, it was our security men that
were killed. I don’t know when it happened. We don’t know what happened,”
Douglas said. Asked if the attack on the guards had anything to do with the
case involving those arrested in connection with death of late ex militant
leader, Soboma George, that was to come up at the court, yesterday , Mr Douglas
said he was not sure. He called on the Police to investigate the incident,
expressing hope that work would resume at the judiciary today.